Muscle Car Auctions

Muscle car auctions aren't the place for regular, working class people to find their dream car...

at least that's what we
used to think, especially after watching the Barrett-Jackson auctions.

The cars
that roll across the auction block are highly-rated, completely
restored, low production number cars that most of us can’t afford to put
in our garage. In addition, we love muscle cars and most of the cars at
the Barrett-Jackson don’t fall into our favorite category.

We were happy to find out we were mistaken! Read on to see why muscle car auctions should definitely be part of your search.

Here's how it works in a nutshell:

(Note that this information in much greater detail is readily available on the Mecum website.)

You pay to park and then you pay to enter the auction site. Parking is
usually inexpensive. Admission was $20 per day to enter the auctions we
attended. That's it! Unless you want to buy a car...

To buy a car, you register to bid. At Mecum it costs $100 to bid and
includes entry for each day + a guest pass. A $500 temp charge is put on
your charge card or you can provide $500 cash. Note that there is a
buyers premium to be paid on any car you purchase. This is based on a
sliding scale. The latest info can be found at Mecum's website.

You will get bidder credentials that allow access to the auction
floor. There is a green sheet available each day to list all the cars
for sale, in order being sold.

Check
the website in advance to see what muscle cars will be auctioned.

Once you are registered, use the daily green sheet to find the cars you are
most interested in and go right to their location.

Just like at an online auction such as eBay Motors, cars can be auctioned with a reserve price.
This means that the seller has determined that he will not sell the car
for less than a stated price that is unknown by the people bidding.
Some cars are sold without a reserve and go to the highest bidder.

Here's
a tip: go early in the morning right when the action starts. Less
expensive cars for sale are auctioned and you can get a real deal. We've seen classic
Mustangs, Firebirds and Challengers sell below market in the early
hours.

GOT IT?

ABOUT

A few years ago, a friend said we should go see a Mecum auto auction. The Mecum auctions primarily feature muscle cars, but other cars and trucks are auctioned, too.

Good news:
what is shown on the live broadcasts of auctions isn’t the whole story. When the TV cameras aren’t rolling, great muscle cars are sold at affordable prices.

It’s pretty exciting to see the hundreds of muscle cars all waiting for you
to inspect. At muscle car auctions you can break the cardinal rule of muscle
car shows: feel free to touch, get inside, get underneath and inspect every
inch of the car (unless, of course, it is one of the feature cars). You can ask
to hear the car running, have the convertible top opened and closed, and in
general anything short of driving it.